AMC Theatres Being Sued for Discrimination Against the Blind

Several blind individuals, the California Council of the Blind and the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired have filed a nationwide class action lawsuit against AMC Theatres. The lawsuit alleges that AMC is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and are failing to provide properly functioning audio description technology.

“I was so excited to take my sighted sons to see their first theater movie – ‘The Good Dinosaur,'” plaintiff Scott Blanks said. “Unfortunately, my excitement quickly turned into disappointment once the movie started and the audio description track kept starting and stopping and then stopped playing altogether. Because the equipment failed, I could not fully enjoy my first moviegoing experience with my children.”

AMC claims to provide audio description services at many of its theaters though, according to the involved parties, it regularly fails to ensure the devices are properly functioning. The audio description devices have been reported to not play audio at all or play audio description for the wrong movie.

Plaintiffs are asking that the court issue a permanent injunction under the ADA requiring AMC to take the steps to provide properly functioning audio description equipment and services.

“Millions of individuals go to AMC theaters each year to enjoy movies, but AMC fails to make this experience accessible to people who are blind or low vision because AMC does not provide properly functioning audio description technology that would allow these moviegoers to fully access movies,” Jeff Thom, President of CCB said. “Millions of Americans are blind or low vision. This is the first class action lawsuit of its kind to address audio description in theaters on a nationwide basis.”

As I’m sure someone is likely to leave a moronic comment, yes, blind people do like movies, even without audio description features. Had two blind roommates in college and they both couldn’t get enough of movies.